The next morning dawned bright and peaceful at the Cole mansion. The sun filtered through the tall curtains, sprinkling light across the living room. Lydia stood in front of the mirror in her room, holding one of the new dresses Jacob had bought her — a soft lavender gown that shimmered faintly when the light touched it.
She hesitated for a moment, running her fingers across the smooth fabric. Since Jacob had returned from their trip to the boutique, her heart had been in a constant rhythm of joy and nerves. He had made her feel loved, not like a maid, but like a woman who mattered.
Today, she wanted to look beautiful for him.
With a smile tugging at her lips, she slipped into the gown, brushed her hair neatly, and tied it with a lilac ribbon. When she looked in the mirror again, she ba
